While Salman Rushdie is fighting for his life after being stabbed, an enraged Bill Maher criticized the abuse of his dear friend (and frequent guest) by a man whose name had the host thinking “is not Amish.”
Sal, as Maher referred to him, intended to speak on how the United States provides a safe harbor for opposing viewpoints. “Giving that speech is inconceivable in most Muslim nations,” Maher said, before adding, “Don’t come at me with Islamaphobia.” When you say ‘phobia,’ you’re basically shutting off dialogue.”
Piers Morgan, a guest with his own history of contentious speech, earned cheers when he said, “The protection of free speech begins with something you can’t stomach.” Morgan said that you may dislike the opinions.
Morgan also expressed concern about the increase of anti-free speech sentiments in the United States and the United Kingdom, citing requests for “trigger warnings” and, in one case, the cancellation of a lecturer who delivered a lecture on provocative speech. “It’s insane,” Morgan remarked of America’s current trajectory. “There’s a fine line between that and Salman Rushdie.” That is what happened to Dave Chappelle and Chris Rock this year for delivering jokes. “When you cross the line into violence, you end up with Salman.”
Rikki Schlott, a 22-year-old New York Post writer, argued that her generation was “never taught the values of free expression.” She astounded Maher by disclosing that her previous NYU student ID included a phone number for reporting “bias.”
